The Bottom Drawer

An eight-drawer dresser sits in an attic corner
Under the east wall dormer
It has a drawer that's quite a bother
It's the bottom drawer, a pesky drawer
That the family tries to ignore
It won’t open, it sticks and is hard to reach
It’s the drawer that’s nearest the floor
The drawers are packed with odds and ends
And from time to time and now and again
Family members get an urge
To climb the aging attic stairs that wobble and slightly bow
To rifle through these odds and ends discarded long ago
Underneath a faded hat they find a painting on a rock
Here’s a broken knife, a run down watch and a key stuck in a lock
A piece of chocolate that still looks fresh, old pennies and a sock
A receipt for rent and a bent and rusted bell
Hands are dirty, clothes are dusty and they hate that musty smell
The desire to pry wanes, their interest is considerably cooled
And the bottom drawer won’t open no matter how hard it’s pulled
There are times I want to get away from my worries and my cares
And from time to time and now and again I climb the attic stairs
With my coffee cup, some toast on a plate I quietly retire
To renew my center and the balance I require
Sighing in pleasure for the time I’ll be here even if it’s just for an hour
About that pesky bottom drawer that the family tries to ignore?
It’s really not hard to open if you know it’s braced
With sturdy pegs behind the dresser that keeps the drawer in place
A simple solution to stop careless hands and prying eyes
From disturbing cherished mementos I’ve saved and deeply prize
I open the drawer and lovingly smooth my Mother’s rosary beads
Here’s the last picture of my Mom and Dad taken at the table as they read
Lying in the corner is a birthday card given to me by my husband
That says I’m the best, most wonderful wife
And the greatest love of his life
A fragile, very old scarf wrapped carefully in tissue
Handed down by my grandmother to my mother to me
That traveled on a ship from Portugal at the turn of the century
Here's a photo of my kids taken when they were grown
Oh my, how fast the years have flown
Coffee and toast long gone, I’m ready to set a new pace
Feeling energized, I’m prepared to get back in the race
I put my treasured mementos back in place
Including the pegs that hold the secret brace
On the bottom drawer, the pesky drawer
That the family tries to ignore
It won’t open, it sticks and is hard to reach
It’s the drawer that’s nearest the floor

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I would like to welcome you to PoetrySoup Carol. Wishing you the best in your writing endeavors this year. You can look to the left side of the main page and find lots of information about PoetrySoup. If you don't find what you are looking for ask any poet here. Everyone here is willing to help. Love, Carol